Earlier on Monday, Apple CEO Tim Chef signed up with Sina Corp.’s Weibo, a Chinese microblogging service similar to Twitter. The action, which is indicative of the significance of the Chinese smartphone market to Apple, means that Chinese Apple fans and others will now have the ability to comply with information as well as information concerning the company on one of China’s biggest social networks.

The solution today has about 200 million active customers monthly, and also as of this early morning, Tim Chef’s validated account on Weibo has actually soared to 320,000 followers.

The timing of Cook’s decision to take part on Chinese social networks is not coincidental– Apple likewise simply revealed substantial strategies to increase its renewable paper and also power efforts in China, which is today one of its fastest-growing markets. The firm stated today that it would be partnering with the Globe Wildlife Fund (WWF) to safeguard woodlands used in the production of paper product packaging for Apple items, as well as it would certainly increase its use of renewable resource in its manufacturing facilities in China.

This statement was also the topic of Cook’s first article on Weibo, which read, “Pleased to be back in Beijing, revealing cutting-edge brand-new environmental programs,” and also linked to Apple’s news release concerning its environmental campaigns. The post, so much Prepare’s simply one, has now obtained over 39,000 comments, and over 50,000 likes. (Weibo, though comparable to Twitter, additionally has some components that look like Facebook.)

Cook likewise has an account on U.S.-based Twitter, which has 1.1. million fans. Both Twitter and also Facebook are prohibited in China, which is why Apple has selected to set up an official visibility on one of China’s biggest social networks instead.

China continues to be a progressively important market for Apple. During its second quarter, for example, the firm stated 71 percent income growth in the area, with China accountancy for $16.8 billion of its revenues.

The information of Cook’s decision to be energetic on Chinese social media sites also reaches the same time as an IDC report which shows China’s smartphone market is reducing. That is, 90 percent of Chinese currently own a mobile phone, meaning that Apple will certainly now have to gain those looking to upgrade in order to continue its development in the region.